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Roof caves in

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Flash, Jan 5, 2007.

  1. Flash

    Flash Guest

    The roof at B.C. Place stadium has collapsed

    Vancouver Sun

    Friday, January 05, 2007

    Exclusive: Viewer submitted cellphone photo of a tear in the fabric of B.C. Place's roof early Friday.
    CREDIT: Courtesy Global National
    Exclusive: Viewer submitted cellphone photo of a tear in the fabric of B.C. Place's roof early Friday.
    A Tower Cam image from downtown Vancouver shows the dome of B.C. Place collapsing under the weight of snow.
    CREDIT: Global News video
    A Tower Cam image from downtown Vancouver shows the dome of B.C. Place collapsing under the weight of snow.


    The roof at B.C. Place stadium has collapsed.

    The fabric roof fell into the empty stadium shortly after noon today.

    The cause was not immediately determined, Vancouver has suffered all morning from a combination of bitter cold, strong winds and heavy sleet.

    The roof is held up by air pressure, so even a tiny tear in the fabric could cause the roof to collapse. The stadium is home to the B.C. Lions football club, and was built in time to open for Expo 86.

    B.C. Place Stadium, the world’s largest air-supported domed stadium was opened in 1983, holds more than 60,000 seats and is covered by fabric that is 1/30 inch thick but stronger than steel.

    Until today, B.C. Place was the world’s largest air-supported domed stadium covering 10 acres in all, with a circumference of 760 metres (2,500 feet), according to the stadium's website.

    The roof sports 10 acres of fibreglass woven fabric. There are 2 layers of fabric with a 4 foot space between them.

    When it snows, like today, hot air is supposed to be pumped between these layers to melt 12 centimetres of snow per hour.

    The total thickness of each layer of roofing material is only 1/30 inch (0.85 millimetres).

    Electric-powered fans keep the air pressure inside the stadium at a higher level than the air outside. This extra air pressure is the only thing keeping the roof up -- there are no beams or steel used at all to support the roof.

    If the fans were turned off and the doors shut, it would take four to six hours to deflate the roof -- but spectators today said the roof collapsed within minutes.

    The Vancouver Sun is following this story. If you have any information, please e-mail sunnewstips@png.canwest.com.
     
  2. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    If a roof crashes to the ground in Vancouver, does it make a noise or a sound?
     
  3. Idaho

    Idaho Active Member

    It probably makes both. Though few would hear it.
     
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